A man who hired private investigators and used GPS trackers to stalk his estranged wife and her new partner, leaving them constantly paranoid, has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

Steven Brown, of Kingswood, Surrey, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, after admitting he stalked the pair over a three-month period, starting in November 2015.

on Monday, Basingstoke Law Courts heard the 52-year-old placed a GPS tracker on his wife's car and another on her new partner's vehicle.

He also hired two private investigators to follow and take photographs of them. The stalking occurred at locations across the country.

Lead magistrate Jan Ball said: "We believe this is so serious it's crossed the custody threshold. However, the sentence will be suspended on the condition you are not convicted of another offence in the next 24 months."

When she became suspicious, she took it to a garage and it was discovered - only for the defendant to subsequently fit a second device on her vehicle.

She said Brown also fitted a device to her new partner's vehicle, linked to the one attached to his wife's car, meaning the defendant would receive an alert if the two vehicles came in close proximity.

The court heard the private investigators were hired to take photographs of the couple together, which the defendant gave to his wife.

'Beat him to a pulp'

He also made numerous phone calls to them. In one message to his wife, the defendant said: "I watch you every day, it kills me, I love you so much.

"I am going to beat this man to a pulp, don't think he is better than me. I am not going to kill him, I am going to hurt him. The next time he goes to a hotel he is going to be in a wheelchair."

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the defendant's wife said she had become "paranoid, low and depressed" following her husband's actions.

She said: "I have not felt I could socialise as I would before. Before this happened I was a confident person and this has been taken away from me."

Defending Brown, Paul Macauley said his client was a "remorseful, hard-working would-be family man" who had initiated family counselling in a bid to repair his marriage.

"He was at his wits' end, in the face of constant denials he is trying to find out what was going on, why is his marriage breaking up?" he said.

'Profound impact'

Speaking after the sentencing, Police Staff Investigator Samantha Nol of Hampshire Constabulary said: “The actions of Steven Brown had a profound impact on the everyday lives of his victims, leaving them feeling paranoid and in fear of who might be watching them.

“They were subjected to several months of stalking, not only via text messages and calls, but also by having their cars tracked by GPS devices.

“No-one has the right to make anyone feel vulnerable and scared and our team worked tirelessly to ensure the person responsible was brought to justice.”

She added the investigation was complex due to technical examinations of electronic devices.

“Despite the challenges we faced, we were able to build such a strong case based on indisputable evidence that he had no choice but to plead guilty,” she said.

“I hope this case clearly shows how seriously Hampshire Constabulary takes reports of this nature and that we will do everything we can to help and support victims.

“Hampshire Constabulary is leading the way nationally in our approach to investigating stalking and this case is proof of how effective we can be.

“We would not have been able to get this result had it not been for the bravery of the victims who felt able to come to us and put their trust in us during what was a very difficult time for them, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for that.”

Brown was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work. He was also given a four-year restraining order.

The magistrates also told him he must complete a 15-day "Building Better Relationships" probation course and pay £620 in court courts and a £115 victim surcharge.

Hampshire Constabulary has developed the first multi-agency clinic to review stalking cases as they are reported - recognised by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust as best practice.

In this case, the victims were supported and given advice throughout their ordeal.